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Accessorize...This Time With Wisdom Behind!

I love to dress up ... accessorize myself with jewelry and wear make up ... Go out !!! But with the busy life and hectic schedules I don't get enough time to do all these things daily ... I often used to get scolded for not decorating my neck and hands with the ornaments. I get labelled as the "Sita from Lanka"! And why should I not be... there stands our traditional belief in "Sola Singar"...bindi, bangles, mangalsutra etc! These accessories actually define who we are and outline our identity. I can anticipate sone raised eyebrows here! The few paragraphs ahead, you will have the reason to validate my statement... On a lighter note, I end up saying "Thats a license for me... that I am married now !!!", pointing to my "Mangalsutra". At times, I just do not have the mood to carry those accessories. "Sawar loo, Sawar loo..." song just feels out of place at such times! Recently however I read that there is science behind wearing the specific jewelry item at specific part of the body. It's indeed good for our health in subtle ways. Some references to acupressure points and Ayurveda made me believe in the authenticity of such claims.

Jewelery made out of gold, silver or any metal is a recent phenomenon if we compare the history of adorning the bodies! In early days, the humans used beautiful flowers to decorate their neck, head , hands etc. I wonder who must have been that very first romantic man or woman who used a forest flower behind the man's ear, popping in front and made a delicate tiara of flowers to be used over the head of the beautiful woman. Whoever he or she was, unknowingly wrote the first chapter in the history of beautification and ornamentation. Since then humans have used a vast variety of things like feathers of birds, bones of animals, sea shells, metals like iron, brass, bronze and nickel for ornamentation.

It was only during the era of Vedas, that women started wearing ornaments made of gold. I can say this pretty surely because during my undergraduate training for commercial arts, I have studied a lot of literature pertaining to that. There is a saying that, " Those who wear gold ornaments make pious what is impious." The archaeological evidences of the ancient civilization of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa show that the people in the ancient times used ornaments of gold, silver , brass and sea shells. Ornaments of certain metals were used for they believed such ornaments were good for the health and they enhanced the glow of the body.

Ornaments of gold are traditionally believed to be good for the health. They are said to have a salutary effect on the ocular vision of an onlooker. The ornaments worn in the ears sharpen the sense of hearing and those worn round the neck enhance the glow of the body and keep skin diseases like leprosy at bay. Nose ornaments are said to strengthen the lungs. The books of Ayurveda contend that just as gold dust is good for the health, so are gold ornaments. Thus traditional twelve cosmetics and sixteen ornaments have a place of pride in the life of women of India.

Ornaments worn on the feet and around ankles are generally made of silver. They are of various patterns. There are chains and straps from which hang the bells that make musical sounds while a young girl wearing such ornaments walks along her way to the village. These ornaments, are not very costly. Being a RAJPUT, I can wear gold ornaments around our ankles. My friends Sathya and Smitha being Keralities, also wear gold ornaments adorning their ankles! So sometimes people do recognize me, that I am a RAJPUT. That's why I have stated that ornaments are our identity too...

I wish that we can follow our tradition of ancient times and take it forward to our children... though not every day, but at least on special occasions! So do wear jewelry...just dig out from your treasure!!! Don't forget, there is always enough time to dress up and doll up self. Jewelry is the most transforming thing one can wear. It has a power to make you feel unique!

12 comments:

Agree, jewelry can truly transform you. I admire people who change jewelry frequently and match it with their dresses. I am a lazy one. Have stopped wearing bangles and necklaces and the earrings are changed may twice or thrice a year!!

Ornaments have never meant anything to me. Not in the past, not now and I don't think it will, in the future. This love for jewellery is something that I have never ever fathomed in this lifetime although I admit I do wear them very minimally during our festivals every year. However, it doesn't mean I'm against other people wearing and adorning themselves with jewellery. It is nice to see the traditional jewellery that is worn during weddings..they are very beautifully crafted pieces and I admire the craftsmanship and the skill of those who do this painstaking task.

There's lots I didn't know . Thanks for sharing. BTW my father in law says that wearing toe rings improves your sex life......I don't know where he got that from but it possibly explains our falling population rate since most women have given up wearing toe rings.

True that. Jewellery can indeed transform a person. However, I have little patience with it except perhaps earrings, which I like to change frequently and a watch - that's a piece of jewellery too, isn't it?

I am not a jewelry or make up person. In fact I have always been a tomboy. The jewelry that I received during my wedding, all lie unloved in a bank locker. However I admire a nicely dressed up lady. What I loved about this post is how you related it to history and science. Interesting read indeed.

I remember my mother all decked up on karva chauth day. Her gold jewellery shining as much as her glowing face. I don't like wearing gold Jewellery. I wear only crystal bands and neck pieces, been wearing them since the past two years. The healing properties of these crystals keep me feeling happy and on top of the world.